R. L. Polk & Co. Names 'Hot' Cars of Summer

'Fun-To-Drive' and Prestige Vehicle Registrations Increase

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 7 -- According to R. L. Polk & Co., registrations of many coupes, convertibles and prestige vehicles peak during the summer months with 40 percent or more of total registrations falling between the months of May and August. Sporty and prestige vehicles, from the Lamborghini Murcielago to the Hyundai Tiburon, fall into this category.

"Summer is the season for pleasure driving and road-tripping throughout the country," said Lonnie Miller, director of Polk Analytical Solutions. "Judging by the vehicles that sell best during the summer months, people are choosing to drive sports cars, convertibles or prestige vehicles."

The top five vehicles with the highest percentage of 2003 annual sales made during the summer months were prestige models: Lamborghini Murcielago (48.0 percent), Lotus Esprit (47.6 percent), Acura NS-X (47.4 percent), Bentley Azure (47.3 percent) and the BMW M5 (45.1 percent). Annual unit registrations for these prestige specialty vehicles tend to fall in low volumes ranging from roughly 50 units for the Bentley Azure to over 1,500 units for the BMW M5.

While the overall market sold 34.9 percent of its vehicles in the summer of 2003, convertibles did nearly 40 percent of their business from May to August of last year. The convertibles with the highest percentage of 2003 summer registrations were the Bentley Azure (47.3 percent), Ford Mustang (45.7 percent), Chrysler Sebring (45.1 percent), Mazda Miata (44.7 percent) and the Saab 93 (44.7 percent).

About R. L. Polk & Co.

R. L. Polk & Co. is the premier provider of automotive information and marketing solutions. Polk collects and interprets global data, and provides extensive automotive business expertise to help customers understand their market position, identify trends, build brand loyalty, conquest new business and gain a competitive advantage. Polk helps automotive manufacturers and dealers, automotive aftermarket companies, finance and insurance companies, advertising agencies, consulting organizations, government agencies and market research firms make good business decisions. A privately held global firm, Polk is based in Southfield, Mich. with operations in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. For more information, please visit http://www.polk.com/ .

    Vehicles with the Highest Percentage of Their Annual Registrations
                 During the Summer Months (May to August)

                      Based on 2003 Retail Registrations

   Vehicles with over 40% Summer registrations excluding new introductions

        Segment            Make Model             % SUMMER REGISTRATIONS
    1   PRESTIGE SPORTY    LAMBORGHINI - MURCIELAGO        48.0%
    2   PRESTIGE SPORTY    LOTUS - ESPRIT                  47.6%
    3   PRESTIGE SPORTY    ACURA - NS-X                    47.4%
    4   PRESTIGE LUXURY    BENTLEY - AZURE                 47.3%
    5   PRESTIGE LUXURY    BMW - M5                        45.1%
    6   BASIC SPORTY       MAZDA - MIATA                   44.7%
    7   MID LUXURY         BMW - 525                       43.6%
    8   UPPER MIDDLE       KIA - OPTIMA                    43.5%
    9   PRESTIGE LUXURY    BMW - 540                       43.1%
    10  BASIC SPORTY       FORD - MUSTANG                  42.8%
    11  PRESTIGE SPORTY    HONDA - S2000                   42.3%
    12  BASIC SPORTY       CHRYSLER - SEBRING              41.9%
    13  UPPER MIDDLE       NISSAN - MAXIMA                 41.7%
    14  MID SPORTY         CHEVROLET - CORVETTE            41.7%
    15  MINIVAN            KIA - SEDONA                    41.6%
    16  BASIC SPORTY       DODGE - STRATUS                 41.5%
    17  BASIC ECONOMY      PONTIAC - SUNFIRE               41.5%
    18  PRESTIGE SPORTY    BMW - Z8                        40.9%
    19  MINIVAN            VOLKSWAGEN - EUROVAN            40.6%
    20  MINIVAN            OLDSMOBILE - SILHOUETTE         40.5%
    21  BASIC SPORTY       VOLVO - C70                     40.4%
    22  PRESTIGE SPORTY    MERCEDES-BENZ - SLK             40.3%
    23  MINI SPORT UTILITY HYUNDAI - SANTA FE              40.2%
    24  BASIC ECONOMY      CHEVROLET - CAVALIER            40.1%
    25  PRESTIGE SPORTY    DODGE - VIPER                   40.1%
    26  BASIC SPORTY       HYUNDAI - TIBURON               40.0%
    Source:  R. L. Polk & Co.

 Convertibles with the Highest % of Summer Registrations (May to August)

                      Based on 2003 Retail Registrations
                 Vehicles with over 40% Summer registrations

               Make Model                                % SUMMER
        1      BENTLEY - AZURE                             47.3%
        2      FORD - MUSTANG                              45.7%
        3      CHRYSLER - SEBRING                          45.1%
        4      MAZDA - MIATA                               44.7%
        5      SAAB - 93                                   44.7%
        6      BMW - 325                                   42.9%
        7      AUDI - TT                                   42.8%
        8      HONDA - S2000                               42.3%
        9      VOLKSWAGEN - NEW BEETLE                     42.3%
       10      BMW - 330                                   42.2%
       11      CHEVROLET - CORVETTE                        42.0%
       12      BMW - M3                                    41.6%
       13      DODGE - VIPER                               41.3%
       14      VOLVO - C70                                 41.1%
       15      BMW - Z8                                    40.9%
       16      MITSUBISHI - ECLIPSE                        40.6%
       17      AUDI - A4                                   40.5%
       Source:  R. L. Polk & Co.